Sometime This Week . . .

SHIP'S LOG:
Sometime this week I will be starting my homeward ramble. What will determine the "when" is when the two mail drop/package deliveries make it to Fort Lauderdale. These will include some medication and a brand new dinghy Oar. When I get the word from Bob & Olga that they have arrived, I will make the short trip up to Fort Lauderdale and make the pick up. I hope that this time I will got to Las Olas Marina which is right on the ICW. I am hoping that I will be able to pick up one of their $20/ night moorings. If not I will have to go back to the New River and tie up on the wall again. Las Olas would be better, better access to showers and laundry and a bit less expensive. After that stop the trip will really begin, but slowly.

I have to make one stop at Fort Pierce to pick up shear pins for the outboard. I finally got the size but not from any of the dealers here in Miami, but from the shop that handles the winterizing of the engine up in Mystic, CT. Dana Avery, a real regular guy, could not believe that none of the dealers would give me the specs for something so ordinary as a shear pin nor that the shops were out of them. He didn't hesitate and I had Skip Moss order them for me. Skip works atr the Ft. Pierce West Marine. He couldn't get stainless steel pins so I went with 10 brass ones. When I winterize the engine in the fall, I'll have Dana install a stainless one. Stopping in Ft. Pierce will be a last chance to see Gerry for probably quite a while and to see if Brad ever did get that radar cable run.

After that, I have to make a stop in Melbourne, sometime between March 20th - 30th. An old friend was discovered living in Melbourne and I will stop and she her and her husband mother. In addition, I want to stop and see Bob and his wife, Chris at the Cocoa Village Marina where I spent Christmas and where they were so helpful and generous. It is just norht of Melbourne. After that, I want to stop in St. Augustine to see another friend who is living there as opposed to the west coast. I thought they were around Tampa and was much disappointed to find out that I had missed them. There are also MArtha and Rich in Palm Coast who demand a visit and who am I to refuse.

Once Florida is done, there are no more "planned visits" until Beaufort, SC. I will stop and see Guy McSweeney and Dr. Fix-it. I finally discovered the slow leak in my dinghy and did my best to fix it, but it will need an expert's hand and that means a stop in Beaufort to see Dr. Fix-it.

The water police around here were especially active on Sunday, stopping anyone on a PWC who was even thinking about exceeding the speed limit in the manatee zones and flagging every powerboat except for the really big adn really expensive ones . . .that are usually the biggest noise and wake makers.I have yet to understand how they apply laws down here.

I would have thought that the Miami area, especially right here between Miami Beach and Miami would have no problems withe cell phones or internet coverage. WRONG!!!!!!! It is awful and not every dependable. Calls get dropped, are garble and sometimes go to the wrong number. The internet covere3age fades in and out. This is the third time I have tried to type and post this blog. This place has nothing to recommend it . . .except the weather.

Miami Vice or Where Was Horatio Cane When I needed Him?

SHIP'S LOG:

Today should have been a fairly uncomplicated day, "should have been" being the operative words. The weather was not bad but the wind was supposed to get rather severe in the afternoon. SO I decided that it would be a good time to go get the shear pins rather than keep waiting for Bruce to go and get them for me. I have after all but waiting for a week almost. So I got in my dinghy and headed for the Watson Park Public Boat Launch. This would save me $16.55 or what it would coast me to become a member of the Miami Yacht Club for another day.

I docked the dinghy and chained it up and walked about a mile and a half to the elevated free train on 2nd Avenue. While waiting for the train, a gust of wind blew my favorite hat, the one from Venice onto the tracks, mere inches from the live third rail. Well so much for that hat. There was no way that I was going to jump down and get it.

The rest of the trip was uneventful until I got to River Marine, the local Hinda Outboard Deal. I asked for 10 shear pins figuring that too many was better than too few. And that's what they had, too few. In fact, they had none. It is a very common item for a shop that specializes in outboard motors, but they had none and had no idea when they would get any more in.

Back on the train and back to the Miami Anchorage. Now, the wind that had been forecast had kicked in and was straight out of the east, right on the nose from where the dinghy was to ABISHAG. It would be a fair workout rowing out to ABISHAG about a mile away but I have done it before(Fort Pierce). As luck would have it the dinghy was there but some lowlife had come by and had stolen one of the two oars. Not both, just one. If he had had a real need, he would have taken both. In this case he was just a punk who wanted to do something mean and taking one oar was enough mean for him. I check the bushes and the trash cans on the chance that once he had taken it, he simply toss it but the search revealed nothing. I would have to try and paddle out with one oar.

Inflatable dinghies row terribly, I am not sure exactly why, but rowing is a joy compared to trying to paddle one. It didn't help matters that the wind was on the nose and hitting 25 in the gusts which were frequent. For every foot I gained on ABISHAG I lost one and went sideways another. It was not a fun experience at all to say the least. They only good thing was that I was able to flag down and get a tow from one of the guys at anchor whom I had met and shared a few beers with. Rick towed me to ABISHAG and said, "Welcome to Miami. Now you've lost your virginity and joined the ranks of boaters who have been ripped off. Everybody gets something stolen in Miami."

I got back and spent sometime on line and on the phone trying to track down a replacement oar. I think I have a line on one and will know for sure tomorrow. Once I am sure, it will be a "simple" matter of getting it delivered to where I can pick it up!Perhaps today was the sign that it is really time to go. But for now, I am "trapped" aboard ABISHAG and it is raining. There perfect ending to the perfect day!

And They Even Get Bad Weather Down Here . . . . Sometimes

SHIP'S LOG:

Yes, earth shattering as it may seem, they do get bad weather down here in Miami. Well, not bad as in 84 inches of snow and temps in the teens, but they do get bad weather. The last couple of days are perfect examples.

We have had two days of rain. well, maybe that is not exactly right. We have had rain on two days. Yes, that is more accurate. Still in all that is more rain than I have seen since Fort Pierce! Now, it wasn't much rain, maybe a 1/2 inch or so, maybe more, but it all came down in a rush, like 30 minutes. And it was cold, too. I mean for the last two days the temperature never even reached the 80's, never got higher than 79. This is not what I expect in Florida, especially in Miami. Can you believe it, 79 degrees. That's only about 8 degrees warmer than the water I have to swim in. It should be at least in the 80's . . . the air not the water.

And the wind. For the last two days it has been a steady 15-20 with gusts in the 30's. I want calm tropical breezes, not wind that in which you can race a sailboat. Tropical breezes just wafting through the air and cooling me down when I have the energy to get out of the sun.

Truth be told, the last couple of fays and the next couple of days will all be about the same, 20% chance of rain( though it has actually turned out to be 100% as it has rained both days and I expect the same for the next two. ) The wind has been gusty and out of the N/NE. Any gust that can lay ABISHAG over has got to be 25-30 and we've been experiencing such gusts about every5 minutes or so. Tuff to keep one's Rum Sour from spilling. It has also been rather overcast and is expected to continue, so while the temperature hasn't been awful, the wind, humidity and lack of sunshine have made it seem cold, well at least cooler than it has been.

The Miami anchorage is thinning out a bit. There is actually a large hole in the center as boats that have been here awhile are starting to move out. Based on the weather in the Gulf Stream, I doubt that they are heading east! It must then either south or north. I have a feeling that it is probably north. Now that we are in March(It is officially Spring in the Country of Georgia as of March 1st)people are going to begin to make the slow trek north. Most of the yearly snow birds, keep their boats in south and are probably heading north to make arrangements for summer storage and perhaps to do some work on their crafts. we have had two pretty good "summer" months this winter and it is probably time to "take the money and run."

I will probably be off next week sometime. Yes, I know that the Ides of March are not next week, but I have a package to pick up in Fort Lauderdale and when the word comes that it has arrive I will naturally go and pick it up and Fort Lauderdale in North of Miami and so rather than go and come back, I will just go. It's one step on a journey that is , according to the GPS 1483 miles long, just the first step. Strange as it may sound, I am as itchy to get back as I was to get down. That "Travelin' Jones" has got me I guess. And that is why I want the weather to get back to where it was. I need to even out my tan!

RAIN!!!! Well, Possibly.

SHIP'S LOG:

Today was another one of those day . . . you know what I mean. A good day to sit around and enjoy the sunshine an do lots of nothing. Unfortunately, I also had to go and do some shopping. So, since I am still "sear pin-less," I took ABISHAG on a three mile cruise up to South Beach and dropped the hook and then rowed the mile up the Collins Canal to Publix. Before I went there, I did a little stroll to the local CVS to pick up a few items that are actually cheaper there than at Publix.The CVS is about 5 blocks south of Publix on Alton Avenue in what you might call a very "avaunt garde" section. One of the stores I passed was a second-hand clothing boutique called "Out Of The Closet" which also offered free HVI Testing.

Miami broke some kind of record with the temperature today and the row to and from where I had anchored ABISHAG got me rather overheated. So after I got back to the "Free" Miami Anchorage and had stored all the stuff, I went for a little swim. Just me and the dolphins . . . or so I thought. I was approached as I swam by a manatee. It was the size of a couple of sofas and about as ugly as you can imagine. Of course, all the stories about mermaids are attributed to sailors long at sea who spy a manatee. Take it from me, you would have to be at sea a LLLLONG time to see a manatee and come up with mermaid.

We are going to get socked with a front passing tonight(they always seem to come at night) and there will be a lot of wind and quite possibly 1/4 inch of rain. The wind just did a 180 from South to North so the front is definitely here. It will make for an anxious night and probably not one of a lot of sleep. But the holding is good and things should be just fine.

In about 2 weeks or less, I will begin the long trip back. Me and the spring weather will travel together so it might be awhile before I get back.The ICW has no secrets for me now and there are some places I really want to see. It should be a rather interesting trip back.

You Can't Fix Stupid!

SHIP'S LOG:

I think it was a comedian by the name of Ron White who came up with the phrase and i would have to day, based on the last two days that I would have to agree completely.

INCIDENT #1 I needed to go to a marina for a "Pump & Dump." one that I should have taken care of sooner. But I waited until Sunday when seemingly everyone with a boat is out using it. I had to pass under the Venetian Causeway Bridge West to get to the only marina in the immediate area that said they had a working pump-out. I was a couple of hundred yards away from the bridge and I called the tender so that he would know that I was coming. I asked him if he could see me and he said "Yes." I did this to give him a heads up because the toll station to get onto the Venetian Causeway is just beyond the bridge and there can be a rather long line of traffic stretching over it. I just wanted him to know I was approaching and was looking for an opening that would be "minimally invasive." I was still some distance away when he hit the lights and opened the bridge. He kept the bridge up for a minute and then closed it back down. I was about 50 yards away. So I called him again and asked for an open "at his convenience." And he went off on a toot, saying that if I made an appointment for the opening I should be there to take advantage of it. And to show me who was in control, he made me sit there until I was joined by several other boats also asking for an opening. I was trying to help him out and he just seemed to take it the wrong way.

INCIDENT #2

The way into the marina for the "Pump & Dump" was down a narrow channel. I actually had to wait, idling in the ICW, until the boats already at the dock began to leave. I got the "ALL CLEAR" from the dock boss and proceeded in. Now in most cases, people in boats tend to pass each other like they do in cars, left-to-left(port to port). A "Gentleman boat operator," coming out of the marina decided that it was the perfect time to talk on his cell phone. With his cell phone in one hand and a beer in the other, an a boat full of friends and family, he started right out of the marina right down the center of the channel so that there was no way I could pass him and stay in the channel. I had to wake him up with blasts from my horn before he realized what he was doing and moved over. And did he give me the dirtiest look. ( I also got the finger from the woman I took to be his wife.)

INCIDENT # 3

Heading back through the same bridge as in Incident #1, I parked 30 feet off the bridge and made my call. Another sailboats was on the other side, about the same size as ABISHAG, and we would pass through together, no problem. The bridge went up and we both started through when a obviously brain dead individual on a Personal Water Craft decided that this would be the perfect time to also got through. AS we two sailboats were between the fenders under the bridge, he came around from behind the other sail boat, cut in front of my bow, passed down the portside and cut in front of the other sailboat's bow, all the while looking back obviously towards some friend also on PWC that hadn't followed him.

INCIDENT#4

Heading back up the Venetian Causeway toward the Miami Anchorage, I came upon a 40-45 motorsailer puttering along in the channel . . . . SSSSSLLLLOOOOOOWWWWLLLLLYYY. The entire deck of the motorsailer was covered with people all drinking and having a great time, including those who where sitting "on the pilothouse" with their legs dangling down in front of the helm(steering) station, and all those on the fore deck in front of the pilothouse. The motorsailer was just weaving all over the place and though I looking, I can't say for sure that I saw anyone on the wheel. I had to duck and dodge to get by, and I just missed colliding with the motorsailer. One of the young ladies offered me a drink.

INCIDENT#5

This one happened today. A couple of kids, mid to late teens, were out windsurfing. Now if the wind is right, you can get a windsurfer up to some pretty respectable speeds. It also can be not the most agile and maneuverable craft and they can get out of control quickly if you loose your focus. For these reasons, they are safest in open water with not a lot of obstacles . . . .like moored boats, especially those with dinghies tethered of the back. And with the foolishness and impetuousness of youth, these two windsurfers took off from the beach through the mooring field and almost made it. One T-Boned a hard dinghy, driving his sailboard through the side, impaling the dinghy while the owner watch from the cockpit. The second lad was luckier as he hit a soft dinghy which only catapulted him and his board 20 feet up and 30 feet out. Neither was really hurt, except in the wallet, though for some reason, I don't believe that they learned much from the incident.

There were actually more incidents and these were just around me. I can't imagine what went on elsewhere. Then again, you can't fix stupid.

81/Humid/Clear Skies/ Light Wind! Bummer!

SHIP'S LOG:

Another terrible day - weather wise - just more of the same old weather. I actually thought maybe there might be a change and I was right, it did get a little hotter.

A couple of nights ago, the wind shifted late at night and I became uneasy about the anchorage and the holding and it all led me to get up and check things out. I Didn't turn on the GPS but simple went into the cockpit, check the anchor and its setting and basically waited for the wind to died down. IT was only a couple of hours until dawn and everything seems better in the light. I supposed that I could have gone back to bed but some sense got me up and I decided to go with it. I had a couple of cups of coffee and some cookies and just enjoyed the morning . . . .that was until I took a good look at my watch. When I first looked at it, it had read 4:47 so it didn't seem to be that big a deal to get up a couple of hours early. However, when my watch is in the "Stop Watch Mode", it runs through the weekdays to count of seconds so that you know it is running. I noticed after two hours that it was doing that and so I hit the "STOP" button, reset the mode to time and it read 2:25AM. I had been using the stopwatch mode to time an engine run for a battery charge and simply forgot to turn it off and reset it to time.And with two cups of coffee, I wasn't going back to sleep any time soon.

Today(Saturday) the cruisers gathered at the Miami Yacht Club Bar and had lunch and a few drinks and told stories of trip and cruises. Jim all the came all the way down from Maine in A Bristol 35. It is more amazing that he had a stroke several years ago and still has significant impairment on his left side, but like me, he is all by himself. Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice,of the Catamaran "ZYDATROPE" are friends who have been cruising for years. They bought the catamaran together and couple has their own hull.They say that the only time it gets a bit difficult is when they argue over where to go next. They can't split up, obviously, but they say the disagreements rarely last long or get really heated. Bob and Edith, a British couple in from the the Bahamas, were quite elderly, both in their mid to late 70's but regularly "beat the dragon" - cross the Gulf Stream - between the Bahamas and Florida and they have been doing it for over 30 years. Edith says it keeps them out of their kids' hair and out of nursing homes.

There were about 30 cruisers in all and most had been into the lifestyle for several years at least and couldn't think of ever leaving it. Once you get into the mindset, once you simplify your life to live on a boat, once you let go of all of the stuff that ties you to the land, they say that your really never want to go back. It is something like a long restful vacation, where you wind down and slow down and change all your perspectives. When you have a vacation like that, you get back home and everyone else seems to be running around furiously and worrying about so many thing s that they haven't got time to smell the roses. If you have had a vacation like that, you can begin to understand. Living aboard and the cruising lifestyle is NOT a vacation, it is just a different style of living. It has as many problems as any other lifestyle, just different and you work out the solutions in different ways. You certainly have a much more control of things, at least somethings, and things you worry about and have to deal with are not always the same as others have to deal with - when was the last time you wondered what the make up and consistency of the ground under your house way, or whether the winds would shift at night and blow stronger or be concerned that pipes in the septic system might be leaking so it would be a good thing to check them all out. I know that a lot of people think that this trip is one long vacation. It certainly has aspects of that in it all right, but it is much more a journey of self-discovery and even if everything goes completely wrong, that journey will always be a good one if the one making it takes the time to come to know themselves.

It is two days and two weeks until Turn-Around-Day on the Ides of March. You want to get that weather mess all sorted out up there please?

Shear Pins! What The Heck Is A Shear Pin?

SHIP'S LOG:

Today was the day of the "shear pin." Shear pins are these little brass(?) rods, perhaps an inch in length which fit through the drive shaft of the outboard motor and fit into a slot in the back of the prop. They transmit the "drive" from the shaft to the prop. They are made to brake or shear when the prop hits something or becomes entangled or whatever so that the prop will spin freely and not damage the shaft and/or the transmission of the engine. It is a very simple and sensible arrangement.

I was planning to go marketing today in South Beach(Miami Beach) and take a tour of the place, so I loaded the motor on the dinghy, attached the fuel line and the fuel tank, put in my shopping bags and took off. I went perhaps a quarter of a mile when the shear pin broke. I didn't think I hit anything, at least nothing I could see in the water or feel, but it sheared nonetheless. So it was a 1/4 mile row back to the boat. I hauled the engine up onto the boat, undid the nub, removed the prop and out fell the shear pin in three parts. (Perhaps I hit a manatee!) As luck would have it, there was a spare shear pin in a little rubber grommet inside the engine cover and it took just minutes to change it out. I lowered the engine back onto the dinghy and headed off to Miami(South) Beach.

If Miami is a 10 foot town, Miami Beach (South) is a 5 foot town. I couldn't help but notice that all the "beautiful people" looked wrong. They all were too perfect. Teeth too white, tans to even, make- up abit over done - everyone looked plastic. And the town was pretty much a reflection of the people. A little too perfect, a little too too, if you know what I mean. It was a nice bus ride, a mere 25 cents, and I got to see it all. It isn't a place that I would go back to though, except perhaps to find the proper "dives" that I am sure exist there somewhere. But I haven't the time or the inclination or the energy to seek them out. No loss, the world is full of "dives!"

Hit the Publix and loaded up the dinghy and motored back to ABISHAG. I of loaded the food stuffs with the engine in neutral and the throttle at idle. After the unloading, I shifted into reverse and the shear pin went. I could see if perhaps the engine was reving or I shifted hard from forward into reverse, but no! it was just at idle and the then reverse and pop, another shear pin. I was not happy!

After I had stored everything and secured the dinghy and the engine and was enjoying pre-pranduals, I guy came by who had been a live aboard at Fort Rachel in Mystic. we shot the breeze for awhile and I mentioned the shear pin problem. He said he was going to River Marine the next day and would pick me up a bunch. It would sure save me a lot of walking.

The weather today was the same boring weather. The swimming was the same as was the tanning. Well, such is life.